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PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Toxic Avenger Part III, The: The Last Temptation of Toxie (1989)

Toxic Avenger Part III, The: The Last Temptation of Toxie (1989) (NTSC)

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Released 31-Aug-2005

Cover Art

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Horror Main Menu Introduction
Main Menu Audio & Animation
Introduction-Lloyd Kaufman (President Of Troma)
Audio Commentary-Lloyd Kaufman (Director)
Audio Commentary-Joe Fleishaker
Featurette-Radioactive Waste (Various Short Featurettes)
Featurette-Where In The World Is Toxie?
Featurette-Toxic interviews
Credits
Rating Rated MA
Year Of Production 1989
Running Time 102:00
RSDL / Flipper Dual Layered Cast & Crew
Start Up Menu
Region Coding 1,2,3,4,5,6 Directed By Michael Herz
Lloyd Kaufman
Studio
Distributor
Troma Team
Stomp Visual
Starring Ron Fazio
John Altamura
Phoebe Legere
Rick Collins
Lisa Gaye
Jessica Dublin
Tsutomu Sekine
Michael J. Kaplan
Traci Mann
Bonnie Garvin
Karen King
Dee Dee Mancuso
Melissa Osborne
Case Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI $24.95 Music Christopher De Marco


Video (NTSC) Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame Full Screen, not known whether Pan & Scan or Full Frame English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio None
16x9 Enhancement No
Video Format 480i (NTSC)
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles None Smoking Yes
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

After the surprising success of their low-budget hit The Toxic Avenger, Troma founders and scribes Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz set about writing a sequel to the thrilling adventures of mutated superhero Toxie. After shooting was completed, they realised they had too much material for one film, and split the single film into two; first, the sadly disappointing The Toxic Avenger Part II and then the even-worse The Toxic Avenger III: The Last Temptation of Toxie.

It's been 10 years since Toxie (Ron Fazio) beat Apocalypse Inc. to free the town of Tromaville of evil, and Toxie is now facing his most terrifying enemy ever: boredom. Unable to hold down a job or find fulfilment, his life has no meaning - until it is revealed that a new but costly operation could allow his blind girlfriend Claire (Phoebe Legere) to see again. When a newly revived Apocalypse Inc. offers Toxie a high-paying job as their spokesperson, he has no choice but to agree - and soon Toxie finds himself transformed into the very thing he despises, a yuppie, and must battle the Devil to save Tromaville and his soul.

The Toxic Avenger III: The Last Temptation of Toxie is boring. It lacks the satire and punch of the first film, succumbing to the silliness and general incoherence that made the second film so disappointing. Very clearly slapped together, it feels incomplete, even with a few choice Troma-esque moments. It's hard to tell which of the two sequels here is the worst, but neither is really worth your time unless you're a die hard Toxie fan - and even then, it might be worth just watching the first film again instead.

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Transfer Quality

Video

The video is presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio.

The video transfer has a lot of problems; as a direct NTSC conversion, there's lots of bad interlacing and aliasing, which is particularly noticeable when there's text on the screen, and there's a surprising amount of film artefacts present across the film. There's also unpleasant telecine wobble at the opening of the film (and later at 45:25).

Fortunately, the video transfer does maintain consistent brightness and strong colours, such as when the school bus falls down the cliff at 78:40 and the later explosion at 82:30. Shadow detail and low level noise is predictably poor, but there's lots of details and sharpness in the bright, well-lit scenes, which is the majority of the film. Maintaining an average bitrate of 4.8mbs, this is a slightly above average Troma transfer.

The DVD cover and audio/subtitle menu claims that there are subtitles, but these do not work.

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

The audio is presented in English Dolby Digital 2.0.

For a low budget film, this audio track is very effective. Although simplistic, lacking any surround and using minimal subwoofer, it's very clear and very audible, doing the different effects and music justice. Sound effects range from the typical horrific violent sounds to effects you'd usually find in cartoons, which ham up the onscreen action accordingly, and the dialogue is all very listenable. No frills, but fine.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

Animated Menus with Audio

The Toxie-inspired menus reek of radioactive waste and mutation, complete with a creepy orchestral rock theme that puts you right in the mood!

Introduction by Lloyd Kaufman (1:52)

Lloyd's introduction is surprisingly subdued here - there's none of his usual jokes or cameos, rather just an endorsement and description of the many nifty special features on the DVD. He's certainly excited about the release, but it's just not up to the usual hilarity. Might I also add that this is forced when you go to play the film, and unskippable, an issue present on most Troma DVDs, and it's extremely annoying.

Commentary by co-director Lloyd Kaufman

Much more interesting than watching the film by itself, Lloyd initally spends a lot of time pouring compliments on the film while joking as he usually does, and throws in some amusing anecdotes about the behind the scenes work, before the commentary really livens up as he is joined by fellow Troma employees Ronny Thomas and Shaun McGrath who change the tone entirely. Both are surprisingly blunt about how little they think of the film, and force Lloyd to talk more candidly about it and the circumstances that led to the creation in its current form. This will prove very interesting for any Troma fan, particularly those who aren't fond of these Toxie sequels like myself.

Commentary by Joe Flieshaker

Joe Flieshaker is the large gentlemen who appears in a variety of Troma films and often appears as Michael Herz in Troma promotional material. Absolutely not a fan of the Toxie sequels, he's initially blunt and interesting to listen to, but longer and longer patches of silence dominate as the film goes on. Still, he delivers plenty of gems across the running time.

Toxic Interviews - Rick Collins (4:47), Ron Fazio (7:48), Toxie 3 stars on the set of Citizen Toxie (3:02), Gay Terry (3:28), Tracey Mann (3:48), Joe Flieshaker (2:02)

Rick Collins, who plays the Devil in this film, is interviewed for Troma's Edge TV whilst Ron Fazio takes a walkthrough the Troma studios for the first time in 7 years and has a nice little exchange with Lloyd. Some cast members who returned for the third sequel discuss Toxie (Joe Flieshaker is a favourite, supported by fart jokes and making fat jokes) and screenwriter Gay Terry gives us a little insight into why these films are so bad. The Troma TV interview with "snake lady" actress Tracey Mann isn't all that interesting, and a final interview with Joe Flieshaker rounds out the set.

Anthology Film Archives Screening (2:27)

From the Troma retrospective at the Anthology Film Archives, December 1st 2000, Lloyd talks to an audience about the background of The Toxic Avenger, later joined by some of the stars of the film. Short, but fun to watch.

Naked Dance of the Damned Fat (2:38)

A frustrated Catholic school girl is seduced into the dark side, transported to the overweight High Priest of the Serpent Lord Fartakiss. Nudity and glow-in-the-dark body paint can't save this unfunny skit from doom.

Radiation March (0:53)

An extremely strange, surreal dance clip that’s really a public service announcement against pollution. I have no idea what this is doing on this DVD, aside from being very clearly in the vein of Troma, it’s a bizarre though enjoyable addition to the package.

Troma Treasure Chest (2:39)

A sample of the Troma Home Shopping network is actually an advertisement for the Troma website and various Troma merchandise.

Learn to Tromadance (2:42)

Highlights from the Troma film festival in January 2000, taking part at Sundance, advertising the opportunity to submit films to be screened.

Mutant Slide Show (1:58)

This nifty slideshow of Toxic Avenger promotional art includes posters and DVD covers from all over the world, as well as photos of Toxie with the rich and famous mixed in with fan art and other goodies, scored to Tromatic music.

Where in the World is Toxie?

A collection of clips from all around the world showing fan admiration for Troma and the Toxic Avenger, this mostly gimmicky extra includes footage from all over the globe with fan gatherings, conventions, random Troma icons heckling people on the street, and a drug bust. In 4:3, these can be selected from their location on a map menu, or play all.

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

The R1 and R4 are identical except for the same omissions plaguing other Aus Troma releases - the Trailers are missing - I'd recommend whichever is cheapest, unless you HAVE to own the extras.

Summary

The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie is best forgotten about.

The video and audio are both B-grade average.

The extras are ok, but not up to scratch with previous Toxie releases.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Ryan Aston (Bioshock)
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Review Equipment
DVDSony Playstation 3 (HDMI 1.3) with Upscaling, using Component output
DisplayBenq PE7700. Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL). This display device has a maximum native resolution of 720p.
Audio DecoderLogitech 5500 THX. Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL).
AmplificationLogitech 5500 THX
SpeakersLogitech 5500 THX

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